Apparatus for removing dust.



No. 847,947. PATENTED MAR. 19. 1907. D. T. KENNEYM APPARATUS FORREMOVING DUST. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 29, 1901.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Inventor-.-

arid fife a.

No. 847,947. PATENTED MAR. 19, 190vv D. T. KENNEY.

APPARATUS'FOR REMOVING DUST.

AVPPLIUAVTION FILED NOV. 29, 1901.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Wail 46556.5: [fa enfor- PATENTED MAR. 19, 1907.

D.T .KENNEY. APPARATUS FOR REMOVING DUST.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 29, 1901.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

flu anion- WL'nasses:

No. 347,947. PATENTBD MAR. 19, 1907. D.T.KBNNEY.

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING DUST;

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1901.

mums-sum 4.

G C) H gm SQ H Gm a GE [1 0 E [I I] gm Gm 5 9 U Q) U [1Q 6).

amnufq, /vif'ne/aoeo (Q7 5| DaV/a I Ken/1 & a

,Wiincsscs:

D. T. KBNNEY.

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING DUST. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1901.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

frzrenefor: I .ficzrigi .ZK'ermey 4 PA TENTED MAR. 19, 1907.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID T. KENNEY, OF NORTH PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO,

VACUUM CLEANER COMPANY, OF NORTH JERSEY.

CORPORATION OF NEW PLAIN FIELD, NEW JERSEY, A

APPARATUS'FOR REMOVING Dus'r.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 19, 1907- Application filed November 29, 1901. Serial No.84,058.-

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID T. -KENNEY, a

' citizen of the United States of America, and

a resident of the borough of North Plainfield, in the county of Somersetand State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in A paratus for Removing Dust, of which the ollowing is aspecification.

This invention relates to apparatus for re moving 'dust from surfacessuch as floors, walls, and ceilings of dwelling-houses, oflicebuildings,factories, and Warehouses, book- -'cases, and shelves and books or forremoving ease and 'despatch and to practically clean' .dust from objectsor articles, as carpets, rugs, furniture, clothing, passenger-coac es,sleeping-cars, drawing-room cars, &c.

The object of. theinventionis to provide an apparatus'by .which thecleaning .or re moving of dust maybeaccomplished with any suitablesurface-object, or article from every adhering particle of dust or dirtwhich can be removed.

In the present invention suction is utilized, so that the dust or dirtis sucked into the apparatus and entirely removed. from the compartmentor room in which the dust was originally. The 'apparatus employedcomprises incombinationa suction-nozzle adapt ed to be movedover thesurface to which it is applied forcleaning and having a narrowinlet-slot, a suction-creating device capable of maintaining asufiicient vacuum, and impurities-collecting means between the nozzleand suction-creating device and suitably connected therewith forremoving the impu rities from the air.

When. the apparatus is employed for cleaning carpets'or other fabrice,the air is forced to penetrate the fabric of the abric as well as ric toany mechanical action that will wear it away.

In the accompanying five sheets of: drawthese two views is a drymgs,'F1gure 1 is an elevation of one form of apparatus for cleaning orremoving dust constructed in accordance with my invention, the sep dustand dirt settle,being shown in 'section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of theseparator with its top plate removed. The separator shown in separator.Fig. -3 is which is provided with whereb the dust isieformed above thefunnel.

arator, in which the part cles of.

a vertical central section,'parts in elevation, of one form of wetseparator. Figs. 4 and 5 are similar sections of still other forms ofwet separators. Fig. 6 is a lon itudinal section on line VI-VI', Fig. 7,of theiand implement -which is preferably used similarly to a carpentersplane, flat-iron,

mop, brush, or

room. Fig. 7 is a view showing the head or shoe of the implement whichis applied to the object to be cleaned, one half of thesame being insection on the line VII VII'of Fig. 6, Fig. 8 is a sectional elevationapplied to a railway-car. Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively a Ian and atransverse section showing a modification of the head or shoe of thehand implement. Fig. 1 1, is a side elevation of another modificationsimulating a flat-iron-or a carpenters plane. Fig. 12' is a half-sectionand a half-plan of Fig. 11, the section being on line XVI XVI of saidfigure. Figs. 13 and 14 are a side elevation and a plan of a modifiedform of hand implement shown in use upon moldings or cornices. Fig. 15is a longitudinal sectlon on the line XlX XIX of Fi 14, and Fig.'16 is asection on the line XX Xof Fig. 13. l

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 and'2, a separator is shownconsisting of a preferably cylindrical casing or shell 1, which is supported on suitable-legs or standards 2 and a top flange 3, to which isbolted or otherwi a removable top 4. A shaped baffle 5 is supportedsuitable funnelin depending position within the upper part of the casing1 by means of an annular flange 5 which is suitably secured, as byriveting or soldering, to the casin '1. The lower portion of the funnelis preferably constructed so as to provide a flaring mouth 5", whileacross the open upper end of the funnel is preferably secured a suitablescreen 6, made in/ any suitable manner to provide openings An annularspace 7 is formed around the funnel, while another space or chamber 8 isThe bottom 1 of the casing-is made to taper downwardly and or.perforations.

showing the apparatus a e suitably secured ICO is provided with ascrew-threaded neck 1*, to

which is applied a suitable screw-cap or closure .1 ,so that dust ordirt which accumulates in the separator maybe removed therefrom.

- A sue-H0116? air P p 9 is arranged at suitable point upper chamber 8of the separator and is proed ,with a chamber 14, in which is located asuitable screen 15. The mouthpiece 13 of the suction-pipe 12 is directedlaterally, while at the opposite side of the casing and below the fla esupporting the funnel, is

. also a lateral -directed outlet-mouthpiece 16 of a flexible tubing orhose 17 or other suitable pipe, which is connected with a handjoreqpivalent im lement 18.- The hose 17 is preferably provi ed with ascrew-coupling 1 9, which Iscrews onto a screw-threaded neck 18 (seeFig. 6) on the hand implement 18.

The construction of one form of hand implement or cleaner is shown indetail in Fig.

fiand 7. Said hand implement is provided with a suitable handle beyondthe neck 18 and with a stock 21, which is composed of screw-threaded andcoupling sections of tubular form, that are in turn connected by ascrew-coupling with the head or shoe 22 of the implement. The head 22 iscomposed of a chambered top part 23, the chamber of which top partis'connected, on the one hand, with the passage through the tubularstock 21,-while, on the otherhand; it is broadened or laterally extendedso as to communicate with anjelongated slot- 24, formed transversely inthe flat bottom plate 25. The slot is restrict-ed and narrow, and thebounding and defining lips thereofare so disposed that the I outwardmouth of the slot lies in what when cast. in one piece.

the cleaner is in use constitutes the contactsurface of the implement,so that it will hug the surface to be cleaned. As illustrated in Figs. 6and 7, thebottom-plate is attached by set-screws 26 26 to the to portion23. It is evident, however, that t ese parts may be Said bottom plate isformed flat, so as to slide or glide along a flat surface, and ispreferably constructed ofsections 25 25 respectively, the rear section25 being fixed in one position to the top art 23, while the frontsection or strip 25 is adjustable, the slot 24 being formed between theadjoining edges of the bottom sections 25 25*. By adjusting the front ortoe section 25 of the bottom plate to or from the section 25 the slotmay be narrowed or widened, according to the work required. The dust ordirt which is to be removed is sucked through the slot 24, and for thepurpose of getting at the parts to be cleaned or dusted more readily, aswell as to get into cracks or crevices, the slot, where the shoe has aflat bottom of considerable extent, may

be provided with projecti lips 24 24*, formed, respectively, on thdbottom sections 25 25 The slot is closed at each end by means of lugs orrearward rojections 27, which are located at each en l of the adjustablebottom section 25", said lugs being received and guided in recesses 28in opposite side edges of the broad bottom section 25. By means of ascrew connection 22* of the head or shoe 22 with the stock 21 differentforms and constructions of heads or shoes may be applied to said stock.1

Suction is exerted on the implement through the neck 18f, and for thepurpose of .a plying or shutting ofi the suction the imp ement 18 isrovided with a valve 29, which seats againsta valve-seat 30, formedinthe stock 21 between the neck 18 and the head or shoe. Said valve iscarried by a valve-stem 31, which is guided in a guidepiece 32, screwedinto the stock 21 and provided with a stuflingbox 33, so as to pack thejoint at this point. The valve-stem 31 is engaged at 34 by means of apivoted handlever 35, which is located adjacent the handle 20 of theimplement, so that when the operator grasps the handle the hand-lever 35may be simultaneously ras ed and moved toward the handle 20, t ere byopening the valve 29 against the closing tendency of its actuating-sring 31". A conical screen 36 is removab y secured in the hollow stock21 and points toward the shoe or head 22. The iunction of this screen 36is to prevent the suction of large pieces of material, such as splintersand. other matter liable to clog up the apparatus, into the pipe leadingto the separator 1.

When the pump 9 is operated, so as to create a suction on the a paratus,and an o erator grasping the hand e of the hand imp ement 18 applies thehead or shoe to a floor, wall, or ceiling, or other surface, the-particles of dust or dirt which'come within the influence of ,the suctionwhich is exerted through the slot 24 are sucked through the implementand through the impllement hose or pi e 17 without oing throug thehandle, the (iiist-laden air ischarging into the annular space 7 aroundthe funnel 5 of the separator. Suction is exerted on the separator bythe mouthpiece '13 of the pum -pipe 12, and in view of the location orthe ori ices of the mouthpieces 13 16 and also of the relative locationof the funnel 5 a whirling or curvilinear motion is im arted to the air,and as the section of the iiinnel is of greater area than the o ening ofthe mouthpiece 16 the air is rare ed in the separator, so that the dustor other particles become relatively heavier. As the whirling orcurvilinear motion imparted to the air within the large chamber of theseparator lengthens out the path of the air-current, as it were, this,in

connection with the fact that the air in the casing ofthe separator israrefied and thesuc pump tion actiondsless therein than in the pie,permits practically all the dust sus. en

e in the dust-laden a1r sucked throug the outlet-mouthpiece 16 ofimplement-pipe 17 to gravitate an drop onto the bottom 1 of the searator, the suction through the enlarged orifice of the funnel not beingsufficient to overcome the gravitating tendency of the dust particles.As a further uard against the sucking of any particles of dust throu h'the intake-mouthpiece 13, the screen 6 at t e upper end of the funnelis preferably provided.

. hould, however, any particles find access into the intake-mouthpiece13, they will be intercepted by the screen 15. from, the

ump is directed to any suitable point.

en the casing 1 is filled with dust or dirt to a practicable point-sayopposite or below the peep-holes 1 -the action of the pump isinterrupted and the screw-cap 1 of the separator removed.- The dust anddirt may be discharged therefrom, as from a hop- 'per,'into a suitablereceptacle. After this as been done the screw-cap is replaced and theaction of the apparatus is resumed. By

reversing the action of the be forced throughthe a paratus, so as toclean the screens 15 6 36 rom adhering particles. It is evident that thehead or shoe, or its equivalent, may be stationary and the object to becleaned moved across it.

One application of an apparatus constructed 1n accordance with myinvention is shown in Fig. 8, where a railway-car is pump 9 air mayshown. In this device a suction-pump 37 is arranged preferably, on theengine at a suitable'point, so as to get steam from the boiler. Theseparator 38 shown here is a wet separator, to be hereinafter described,and is su ported on a shelf 39 at a suitable point in t e car, it beingconnected, by means of a branch pipe 40, with a train-line pipe 41,which eads to the suction-pump 37. The trainline pipe 41. is arranged insect-ions, one for each car, connected by con lings 42, the same as withan air-brake. The and implement 18 .1s the same as described heretofore.By this means a whole train of cars or anything contained therein may becleaned, as each car is equi ped with a special separator and a suitableli provided with funnels 44- for fil and implement.

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 show various forms of wet separators, consisting ofcasin s or tanks 43, ing casings 43 with Water or other suitable li uid,said filllng-funnels being each contro led by stopcock 45. Water gages46 indicate the height'of the water in the casing 43. In igs. 3 and 4dip-tubes 47 are shown, the same being inserted through suitablestufflng-boxes 48 48.1, respectively, at the top of the casing, so asrtodip intothe water there- ;nw By inserting the tubes 47 into the water heliquid surface in contact with the dust- The air discharged laden air isincreased. In this way the dust is carried directly into the liquid andpreclpitated therein. The said tubes 47 are not fined permanently to thecasing, but may slide 1n their stuning-boxes, so as to be adustableaccording to the height of the water in the casing. In Fig. 3 the tube47 is connected, by means of suitabie hose or other pipe 47 as in Fig.1, with the hand implement or correspondingpart. (Not shown.) In thisfigure the stuffing-box 48 is arran ed on a neck 49 at the top of thecasing, whic neck is connected by a flexible or other suitable pipe '49with the suction-pump; I In Fig. 4 the branch pipe 50, which leads tothe hand implement or corresponding part, is connected with a head 51 bya tube 52, which has a sliding connection with the head 51,

into which it is inserted. The inner end of the tube 52 is inserted intoa tubular glass 53, closed at one end, and at the other end coupled tothe head 51, so that it may be used for the purpose of demonstration inobservin the quantity of dust sucked through the tu e 52 In Fig. 5 thepipe leading from the hand implement is connected by a gooseneck 54 withthe 'casing. This gooseneck prevents the Water from finding its way intothe hand implement. A transverse perforated bafilin'g-plate 56 issuitably secured in the casing at a point above the outlet end of thegooseneck 54, so that the dust-laden bubbles of air apt to occurwill. bebroken up and the danger of any dust being carried into the pump-plpe 57minimized. In the liquidchamber of the wet separator the water or otherli uid therein becomes charged with dust and dirt, and then at thedesired moment the dirt liquid is permitted to flow off through theaucet 55. Should such an interval of time elapse that the dust and dirtwill settle in the bottom of the casing of such -a separator, as shownin these figures, so as to form a de osit therein which would not ofitself How 01? through the. faucet 55, the action of the pump isreversed, so as to force compressed air into the separator 43, therebsquirting the deposit out orblowing 1t throu h the faucet 55.

Eac form. of separator shown acts as a suction reserve and equalizer,for the reason that a partial vacuum is created in the air chamber abovethe liquid, causing a constant and practically uniform suction on thedust-inlet head or shoe whatever maybe the variations due to friction orother possible disturbances in the ump-pipe or attached parts.

In Fi s. 9 an 10 another form of head or shoe is s own, the same beingT-shaped, the chambered cross-piece 68 of which is provided with a slot69. At opposite sides of the head journals 70 are provided, on which aremounted rollers 71, so that the hand im- 'plement may be easily rolledback and forth over the surface to be cleaned.

In the form shown in Figs. 11 and 12 the device resembles a flat-iron orcarpenter's '72, which is equip ed with a fiat bottom plate or section73, aving an adjustable section 74, as in the main form of the handimplement, so that the slot 75 may be adjusted according torequirements. The suctlontube 76 is in this case preferably'attached toone side of the hand-grip 72, which is hollow at this point, as at 77,so as to provide achamher, as indicated in Fig. 12. This form of thehand implement is ver desirable where small objects are to be c eaned,as desks, sofas, and other office or arlor furniture, and this form ofthe'invention could also be utilized to advantage in cleaning dust frombooks, file-boxes, &c.

In the form shown in Figs. 13 to 16 the device is peculiarly adapted forgetting into recesses or corners of moldings, cornlces, or other similarwork. Here an elongated tubular stock 78 is provided, having at one endR handle 79 and adjacent thereto a neck 80, which is connected with thesuction-pi e. A valve 81, operated by means of a ham -lever 82 adjacentto the handle of the stock, controls the suction through the implement.At the opposite end of the stock 78 are arranged branch pipes 83,provided with return-bends 84, and constructed at. theirinwardly-presented ends with journals 85 85 on which is journaled atubular head or shoe 86, that turns on its longitudinal axis, so that alongitudinal slot 87, which lies in the contactsurface of the head orshoe, may be moved to the desired point bythe rotation of the said heador shoe. This turning movement of the tubular head br shoe '86 may beaccomplished by means of a crank 88 thereon, which is connected with anoperating-rod 89, having a handle 90 and guidedlongitudinally of thestock-by a guide-eye 91, located on the stock. turn the tubu ar head'orshoe the slot therein is presentedat various points-inthe recess of acornice or molding to be cleaned, so that all of the dust or dirttherein may be removed by the suction exerted on the implement.

' Where hand implements are used as such, the handles may be of variousconstruction. Of course the separators may be made'and sold separatelyfrom the rest of the a paratus.

It is evident that other forms oi hand or other implements or equivalentparts may be provided which are peculiarly adapted for special work, andit is also evident that various forms of separators maybe employed andother changes may be made in the apparatus without departing from thespirit and so e of the invention.

n my Patent No. 739,263, dated September 15, 1903, and filed February 8,1902, as a division of this application, (wherein this ap- By 0 cratingthe slide-rod so as tosense? i plication is referred to andw'ronglystated to vision of this application, I have claimed the meansfor observing dust-laden air-currents disclosed in this application andillustrated in Fig. 4, and in my ap li'cation iiled as a divisionalapplication 0 this application, Dceember 28, 1906, Serial No. 349,881, Iclaim the cleaner with adjustable slot.

What Iclaim as new and of my invention 1s 1. In a suction-cleaningapparatus, the

therewith for removing the impurities from 1 the air, substantially asdescribed.

2." In an apparatus for removing dust or dirt, the combination of asuction-creating device capable of maintaining a sufficient vacuum, aninlet head or shoe having an un obstructed elongated slot and soconstructed that the edges of the slot may be brought into contact'withthe surface of the object to be cleaned, and a separator intermediate ofand suitably connected withthe suction-creating device and the inlethead or shoe for'removing the dust from the air, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a suction-cleaning apparatus, the combination of'a suction-nozzleadapted to be moved over the surface to which it is applied for cleaningand having a narrow inletslot, a power-operatedsuction-pump, andimpurity-collecting means between said noz zle and ump adapted to removethe impurities mm the air and prevent fouling the pump while permittingthe working vacuum to be maintained at the nozzle, substantially asdescribed.

4. A cleaner comprising a suction-chamber,

rovided a narrow inlet-slot; the slot bemg bounded an'cbdefined by lipswhich lie in the contact-surface of the cleaner, with the outward mouthof the slot lying in the plane of this contact-surface, substantially asdescribed. I

Signedat New York, N. Y., this 26th day of November, 1901.

DAVID, 'T. KENNEY. Witnesses:

THOMAS EWING, Jr, Geo. L. WHEELOCK.

Disclaimer in Letters Patent No. 847,947.

DISCLAIMER- 847,947.David T. Kemwy, North Plainfield; N. J Armmrus nonRnmovmc Dus'r. Patent dated March 19, 1907. Disclaimer filed November19, 1915, bv

the assignee, Vacuum Cleaner Company. Enters this disclaimer- I 1 Y Tothat part of the claim in said specification, being claim 2 thereof,which is l in the following'words to wit: q 1

In an apparatus for removing dust or dirt, the combination of asuction-creatingdevice capable of maintaining a suflicient vacuum, aninlet head or shoe having an unobstructed elongated slot and soconstructed that the edges of the; slot maybe brought into contactwith'the surface of the object to be cleaned,'and a separatorintermediate of and suitably connected with the suction-creating deviceand the inlet head or shoe for removing the dust from the air,substantially as described 0M1 Gazette, December 7, 1915.]

